We recorded he podcast last night with Jennifer Cobb and Holly Ballantine from www.RangersTalkers.com. We’ll have it posted up here on the site later this morning be sure to check it out to hear how the sTalkers got started and all of our thoughts on the recent Josh Hamilton news. Disclaimer: Jennifer’s dog is named “Hambone”.

The Rangers announced Yu Darvish will make his first Spring Training start on March 7th at 2 p.m. against San Diego in Peoria. The game will be broadcast on texasrangers.com. Darvish threw 36 pitches yesterday and seemed to be happy with the outing.

Here is the full rotation for the first five Spring Training games:
March 4: Colby Lewis, Scott Feldman
March 5: Derek Holland, Alexi Ogando
March 6: Matt Harrison
March 7: Darvish
March 8: Neftali Feliz

Ron Washington has said he’s going to allow Elvis Andrus to start taking responsibility for his own play, rather than watching over the young shortstop as closely and proactively addressing his play. Andrus,while still only 23 years old, has been a full-timer at the major league level for the Rangers for the last three seasons.

Washington on Andrus, “He’s established himself now to the point where he knows what he has to do. We’re going to give him some leeway. His teammates will make sure he does what he needs to do. I think we’ll see less of him zoning out than we have in the past.”

Andrus on the new found freedom, ”I am learning how to handle my body and my mind better. Last year, he wasn’t on me quite as much. I appreciate the help and I needed it, but at the same time, as you grow as a player and a person, you want that responsibility to do it yourself. I don’t expect him to be behind me like he was earlier. I know when I make a mistake. I know he’ll be there to help me when I need it too.”

Andrus on wanting to improve his power stroke, ”I want to add some power. I don’t mean home runs. Those happen with good swings. But I want to drive the ball more to the gaps.”

The starting rotation has been much of the talk so far this Spring Training, with potentially 7 viable options, not counting the always looming presence of free-agent veteran Roy Oswalt, and only 5 spots.

T.R. Sullivan (MLB.com) writes that Yu Darvish and Neftali Feliz are both making solid impressions early in camp here.

Sullivan on Feliz, “It is still early in camp but Washington likes what he sees from both pitchers, especially Feliz. Washington said he sees a pitcher who came to camp determined to be a starter.”